Dallas adds explosive RB Israel “Izzy” Abanikanda to the practice squad, betting on his Pitt star power and preseason flashes to pay off in Big D.
The Dallas Cowboys quietly made a move over the weekend that could end up being a lot louder down the road. Dallas added running back Israel "Izzy" Abanikanda to the practice squad, giving the backfield another dose of speed and upside as the season grinds on.
Abanikanda isn't a household name, but he is not some random flyer, either.
The Cowboys liked him coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft, before he ultimately landed with the New York Jets as a fifth-round pick. After a brief stop with the Green Bay Packers, he has finally found his way to Dallas.
On Monday, Abanikanda hit the practice field at The Star for the first time, and we got our first look at his new number.
If he sees the field in a game this season, he will be wearing No. 30. Recent Cowboys to rock 30 include Juanyeh Thomas (2023-24), DaRon Bland (2022), and Robert Rochell (2025). If Izzy sticks, he will have a chance to put his own stamp on the jersey.
Right now, though, there is no rush.
With Malik Davis emerging and the current rotation more or less settled, Abanikanda's path to game-day snaps might take some time. But this is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside move smart teams make in December.
The upside is very real.
At Pitt, Abanikanda went from role player to overnight star once he finally got the backfield to himself. In his junior season, he carried the ball 239 times for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns, adding 12 receptions for 146 yards and another score.
Those numbers earned him first-team All-American and first-team All-ACC honors and put him firmly on NFL radars.
As a pro, his biggest flash so far came in the 2024 preseason with the Jets, when he ripped off nine carries for 83 yards and a touchdown, averaging 9.2 yards per pop.
That kind of explosiveness is exactly why the Cowboys were willing to roll the dice.
If Izzy can tap back into that Pitt form in Dallas, this practice-squad move might eventually look less like a depth add and more like a steal.